It was really a useful item... wasn't it!?
After dinner, I spent a relaxing evening in my room for the first time in a while.
At the academy, I always feel like the day ends in a flash after preparing meals, finishing assignments, and handling personal matters.
Well, even at home, I still cook.
The academy's policy is to leave weekends free for personal development, so no homework is assigned, and how people spend their weekends varies.
Some, like me, return to their homes in the capital, while others gather medicinal herbs in the academy's forest or focus on their own research.
I hear that commoners and merchants' children work part-time or help out at their family businesses.
A part-time job... I'm interested, but is there a job I can actually do?
... Now that I think about it, this current project was a job Otousama requested.
So, the job I can do is cooking, after all...
While thinking about such things, tonight I carefully brushed Mashiro and Kurogane more thoroughly than usual.
The next morning, while I was enjoying pizza toast, Otousama and Okaasama arrived in the dining room a little late.
"Good morning, Otousama, Okaasama. I started eating ahead of you."
"... No, we are the ones who are late, so don't worry about it. By the way, Cristea, come to the study after this."
"... Huh? O-Okay."
Otousama, somewhat vaguely, summoned me to the study, leaving me confused, but I agreed.
Huh... Did I do something wrong?
I don’t remember anything.
Though I don’t recall making any mistakes, I often get scolded for things I didn’t even think of, so I’ll do my best to keep the scolding to a minimum.
... Though I don’t really know what I should be doing.
This time, I only came back to test a new recipe, so there shouldn’t be anything noteworthy.
With those thoughts, I found myself standing in front of the door to Otousama's study.
"Otousama, it's Cristea."
"Mm, come in."
When I entered the study after hearing Otousama's response, Okaasama was there waiting as well.
... Huh? What kind of lecture am I going to get with both of them here!?
No, it’s not necessarily a lecture.
But, calling me to the study instead of for tea, and dismissing the servants, feels like nothing but a bad omen!
"Sit over there."
I sat lightly on the sofa across from my parents and straightened my posture.
If I’m going to be scolded, I should show sincerity, make it clear that I’m reflecting, and end the lecture swiftly. This is key.
"Cristea."
Here it comes. What did I do wrong…
"... Well, you see, last night, I received a report from the Head Chef."
"Yes?"
Oh, come on! Did the Head Chef really leak something to Otousama that I don’t remember doing!?
"Where on earth did you learn about aphrodisiacs?"
"... Huh?"
Aphrodisiac? Aphrodisiac... Oh!
That! The chocolate!
Now that I think about it, the chef did mention he’d report it!
I’m sorry for doubting you, Chef!
"Um, I received it yesterday from a stall selling spices from the Samonar Kingdom. I bought a large quantity for the test and the actual event, and they gave it to me for free, saying it’s good to drink with someone special."
I wasn’t exactly handed an aphrodisiac.
"What!? How dare a vendor give an aphrodisiac to my innocent daughter! I cannot tolerate the existence of such a stall! I’ll head there at once...!"
"Dear, calm down."
Okaasama grabbed Otousama’s sleeve as he immediately stood up and made for the door.
"... Hmm."
Hearing Okaasama's voice, Otousama seemed to calm down a little and reluctantly sat back down on the sofa.
"You see, Cristea. We haven’t given you 'bedroom education' yet, thinking you were still too young. How did you know that this was the so-called aphrodisiac?"
"... Huh?"
Bedroom education? ... Wait, bedroom education?
Come to think of it, I’ve never learned about that... in this world.
... Oh no!
Is this an interrogation about where I gained knowledge about sex!?
Uh, what do I do?
In my previous life, as an otaku, I had some niche knowledge about cacao being considered to have such effects. That’s all it was.
In this world, is that part of bedroom education?
If that’s the case, they might be wondering why I know something I haven’t been taught yet.
Do they think I have someone special? Or that a bad friend taught me something inappropriate!? Yikes.
"Um, I was researching herbs at the academy, and I happened to learn about the ingredients and their effects. I thought it could be used in confectionery. Um, what exactly is bedroom education?"
In this situation, I’ll just play dumb!
Tilting my head with a puzzled look, Otousama visibly relaxed, "I see... herbal studies..." he muttered as he slumped against the back of the sofa.
"Dear, please focus. The conversation isn’t over yet."
As Okaasama placed her hand on Otousama's arm, he straightened up in a hurry.
"Yes, herbal studies... What did it say about it?"
"Huh? Well, I didn’t read it in detail, just skimmed it. But I believe it said something about bringing men and women closer..."
I said, hoping it would suffice.
"Bringing men and women closer... I see."
Okaasama seemed somewhat relieved.
Good, she seems to believe me.
I mean, of course they’d be surprised if their innocent daughter suddenly said, "I made sweets with aphrodisiacs!"
The Head Chef probably thought that as the daughter of a high-ranking noble, I’d already been educated in *those matters* and reported the facts as they were, without thinking twice.
Ugh, I guess I did unintentionally cause some trouble again.
But wasn’t this outcome inevitable!? It was beyond my control!
"That book should be banned immediately."
"Dear, please calm down. Cristea is perfectly fine, as you can see."
What do you mean, "as you can see"?
Are you saying I’m still an innocent maiden who knows nothing about bedroom matters?
Sorry to disappoint, but I have niche otaku knowledge from my previous life! Not that I plan to share it.
"Ah, yes. That’s true..."
"Since there was no real issue, don’t you agree, dear?"
Encouraged by Okaasama's gaze, Otousama cleared his throat and turned to me.
"So, um, we decided not to serve that dessert at the dinner party. However, we must report it to His Majesty. We can’t overlook the fact that it has a potent magic power-restoring effect, even if it’s not an aphrodisiac."
"I-I see..."
Well, I figured it wouldn’t be served, so that’s fine.
But reporting it to His Majesty... I hope they don’t use it for military purposes or something.
"That being said, can you make more of the dessert?"
"Huh?"
Why?
"Well, you see, we need more to properly verify its effects."
"There wasn’t enough?"
"I-It seems so."
I thought I’d given them a pretty sizable portion.
Even Okaasama was nodding enthusiastically with a smile... Wait!
"U-Understood. As long as we have the ingredients, the Head Chef knows how to make it. I’ll let him know."
"N-No, if the Head Chef knows, I’ll tell him myself! You may return to your room."
"... Okay."
I was practically pushed out of the study by my parents.
The last thing I saw before the door closed was my parents sitting close together.
... It seems the aphrodisiac really was quite effective?
What do you think about this chapter?
